Joseph Leonard Jarrett

Joseph Leonard Jarrett, 85 ½, passed away on April 15, 2024.  He is preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Cyr Wemple, father, James Jarrett and sister, Jeanette Jarrett Hendrickson.   He is also survived by his wife of 27 years, Nancy James Jarrett.  He is also survived by his son Daniel; two daughters, Heather , and Dawn; two step-sons, Jason and Travis.  He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Charles (Chuck) Zigmund Jr., Rose Marie Gloor, Elizabeth (Liz) Asay, Shandel (Shan)Anelmo, John (JF) Hendrickson, Ruth Hendrickson and Gene Hendrickson, his granddaughter Christa Saenz and great grandson Wesley Temkin. 

Mr. Jarrett was a longtime resident of New Mexico and lived in Gallup and Rio Rancho, NM.  He retired from the Federal Government and his last duty station in Gallup when he retired was as the Human Resources Manger with the Bureau of Indian Affair.   During retirement, he volunteered for five years with St. Felix Pantry.  He was originally from Missoula, Montana and was a 1961 graduate at the University of Montana.  He often talked about spending summers on his grandparents 6,000 acre cattle ranch in Roundup, Montana; learning to drive a team of horses and buck-rake at the age of eight.

Mr. Jarrett was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army with a final rank of Captain and completed more than two years with the 14^th Armored Calvary Regiment guarding the US/ German border during the early Cold War years.   He completed a total of fifteen years with the U.S. Army Reserve.  In retirement, he was a proud member of the 14^Th Calvary Association and attended yearly meeting of the Association, including trips to Hawaii and numerous other states.  After his active duty military service, he used the G.I. Bill to receive a license as a Commercial Flight Instructor Multi- Engine Land plus intruments from the F.A.A. and flew privately for several years. 

Mr. Jarrett loved to travel and took many trips overseas with his wife, Nancy.  In retirement, they traveled to over 50 countries and were members of the Quatro Mondo International Travel Club.